Elijah Taken Up and the Miracles of Elisha

Ahaziah fell sick and sent some of his servants to consult an idol about his recovery. Elijah, instructed by God, met them on the road, rebuked them, and told them to inform the king that he would die of that illness. Then the king ordered Elijah to be seized and brought before him, but those sent to do it were burned up by fire from heaven. The king died, as the prophet had foretold. His brother Joram succeeded him and held the government for twelve years. [a]

On the side of the two tribes, King Jehoshaphat died, and his son Joram held the kingdom for eighteen years. He had Ahab’s daughter as his wife, and he proved more like his father-in-law than his father. After him his son Ahaziah received the kingdom. During his reign Elijah is said to have been taken up into heaven. At the same time his disciple Elisha showed his power by working many miracles, all too well known to need describing by my pen. By him a widow’s son was brought back to life; a leper from Syria was cleansed; in a time of famine, plenty of everything was brought into the city when the enemy were put to flight; water was supplied for three armies to use; and a woman’s debt was paid from a little oil, which was multiplied enormously, and enough was provided for her to live on as well.

In his time, as we have said, Ahaziah was king of the two tribes, while Joram, as we related above, ruled the ten, and an alliance was made between them. With their forces joined, they made war both on the Syrians and on Jehu, who had been anointed by the prophet as king of the ten tribes. They went out to battle together, and both died in the same fight.